title: Integration of water, sanitation, and hygiene for the prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases: a rationale for inter-sectoral collaboration.
abstract: Improvements of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and appropriate health-seeking behavior are necessary for achieving sustained control, elimination, or eradication of many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Indeed, the global strategies to fight NTDs include provision of WASH, but few programs have specific WASH targets and approaches. Collaboration between disease control programs and stakeholders in WASH is a critical next step. A group of stakeholders from the NTD control, child health, and WASH sectors convened in late 2012 to discuss opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration. The group agreed on a common vision, namely "Disease-free communities that have adequate and equitable access to water and sanitation, and that practice good hygiene." Four key areas of collaboration were identified, including (i) advocacy, policy, and communication; (ii) capacity building and training; (iii) mapping, data collection, and monitoring; and (iv) research. We discuss strategic opportunities and ways forward for enhanced collaboration between the WASH and the NTD sectors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Addiss
authors.forename: Asrat G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Amnie
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beckwith
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cairncross
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Callejas
authors.forename: Jack M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Colford
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fishman
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.forename: Gagik
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karapetyan
authors.forename: Brooks
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keene
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lammie
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macarthur
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lochery
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Petach
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: Sarina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prabasi
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rosenboom
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saywell
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schechtman
authors.forename: Anupama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tantri
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Velleman
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utzinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012499:Sanitation / Q000379:methods*; D014329:Tropical Climate; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*